Apparatus for generating and applying linear forces

Abstract

An apparatus including a piston bore, exhibiting a longitudinal axis, and a piston, including a piston head and a piston shaft. The piston being axially displace-able within the piston bore along the longitudinal axis. The piston bore and a first surface of the piston head form a first working volume and displacement of the piston alters the first working volume. The apparatus also includes a first plurality of injectors coupled to the first working volume and a first common rail. The first plurality of injectors are configured to inject a hydraulic fluid from the common rail into the first working volume. The first common rail is configured to store the hydraulic fluid at an elevated pressure of 1,000 bar or greater. The apparatus includes a flow path between the first working volume and a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a piston bore, wherein said piston bore exhibits a longitudinal axis; 
 a piston, including a piston head and a piston shaft, wherein said piston is axially displace-able within said piston bore along said longitudinal axis, wherein said piston bore and a first surface of said piston head form a first working volume and displacement of said piston alters said first working volume; 
 a first plurality of injectors coupled to said first working volume and a first common rail, wherein said first plurality of injectors are configured to inject a hydraulic fluid from said common rail into said first working volume; 
 said first common rail configured to store said hydraulic fluid at an elevated pressure of 1,000 bar or greater; 
 a pump coupled to said first common rail configured to maintain said hydraulic fluid in said common rail at said elevated pressure; and 
 a flow path between said first working volume and a reservoir for said hydraulic fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic fluid exhibits a bulk modulus of greater than 5,000 bar at a temperature of 100° C. and a pressure of 500 bar. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of injectors is positioned radially around said longitudinal axis of said piston bore. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing associated with said piston shaft, wherein said piston shaft applies a load to said bearing upon displacement of said piston shaft. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a connecting rod pivotably connected to said piston shaft at a first end of said connecting rod and a bearing mounted in a second end of said connecting rod. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said bearing is a journal bearing. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first working volume exhibits a volume in the range of 0.2 cm 3  to 25 cm 3 . 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first injectors each are able to withstand a pressure in the range of 2,000 bar to 3,000 bar. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first injectors each exhibit a flow rating at 100 bar of 1.00 L/min or greater. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said piston applies a load in the range of 50 kN to 300 kN at a rate of +/−50 kN/ms to +/−130 kN/ms. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second working volume formed by a second surface of said piston head and said piston bore; a second plurality of injectors coupled to said second working volume and a second common rail, wherein said second plurality of injectors are configured to inject hydraulic fluid from said second common rail into said second working volume, and said second common rail is maintained at a pressure of 1,000 bar or greater. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third plurality of injectors configured to remove hydraulic fluid from said first working volume. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth plurality of injectors configured to remove hydraulic fluid from said second working volume.